Page 15 - 1918 October - To Dragma

310 TO PRAGMA OF ALPHA OMICRON PI

R E P O R T O F E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E , 1917-1918

Despite unsettled conditions the past year has been unquestionably
one of progress for Alpha Omicron Pi, not only in the growth of the
fraternity, for we have added Psi and Phi chapters, but in the growth
of national spirit, which has been most gratifying.

There has been a marked improvement i n promptness and content
of reports, both annual and monthly. We should, however, be glad
if the chapter secretaries would keep us a little more in touch with
what is actually going on in their colleges. The Grand Secretary has
appreciated the efforts of the chapter secretaries to have their annual
reports in on time, even though it was a bit embarrassing to have
her hostess roused at midnight on two occasions for special deliveries!
Except for Nu, Tau, and Lincoln Alumna:, whose reports have not
yet been received, we have had most interesting accounts of the war
work accomplished by the various chapters and individual members.
Knoxville Alumna: and Upsilon have been organized as Red Cross
auxiliaries. Chi has furnished a farm unit of twelve for the Woman's
Land Army this summer. Many of our individual alumnae are giving
all their spare time to surgical dressings and other Red Cross work,
and others are definitely engaged in some form of Government work.
There are already four of our number overseas. Although we have
not yet officially adopted a specific form of national alumna; work, yet
we can safely say that the fraternity, as a whole, has adopted war
work as its national program.

The active chapters (excluding Nu, Tau. and Epsilon who have
not reported on this) hold over $36,000 in Liberty Bonds and over
$1,000 in War Savings Stamps. They have adopted eight French
and two Armenian orphans and have knitted an amazing number
of sweaters, helmets, socks, etc., beside contributing generously to the
Red Cross, Y. M . C. A., and Y. W. C. A. drives.

Scholarship has come up steadily and surely. We have, among our
1918 graduates, eight Phi Beta Kappas, four Phi Kappa Phis, and
one Sigma X i . We feel that those chapters whose scholarship still
lags somewhat behind are coming gradually toward the top of the
ladder and that this year will mean a big step in advance for them.

The outstanding event of the year has been the visit of the Grand
President to the chapters. The expense of this trip we feel has been
fully justified by the results, in the closer bond between the chapters
and the closer knowledge by the Executive Committee of each chapter.